Various arrangements for acquiring network configuration data are presented. In response to a television receiver being booted, the television receiver may determine if it can communicate with a service provider's server. If so, the television receiver may request network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via a network interface. The television receiver may receive the network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface. Based on the network configuration data, the television receiver may process television programming data received via the tuner.
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1. A system for acquiring network configuration data, the system comprising: a television service provider system that comprises: a television service provider configuration server that communicates with television receivers via a television programming broadcast network and the Internet, a network configuration dataset database that stores sets of network configuration data, an identifier database that maps television receiver identifiers to network configuration data; and a television receiver, comprising: a tuner configured to receive broadcasts of television programming via a television programming broadcast network, wherein network configuration data is received by the tuner on a transponder stream from the television programming broadcast network; a network interface configured to communicate with the television service provider configuration server via a network separate from the television programming broadcast network, the network comprising the Internet; one or more processors; and a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: in response to a boot of the television receiver, determine that previous-stored network configuration data is stored by the television receiver; compare a timestamp of the previously-stored network configuration data with a current time; determine that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale based on comparing the timestamp with the current time; in response to determining that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale: determine if the network interface can communicate with the television service provider configuration server via the network; in response to determining the network interface can communicate with the television service provider configuration server: transmit a request for network configuration data via the network interface and the network to the television service provider configuration server, the request comprising an identifier of the television receiver; receive the network configuration data from the television service provider configuration server via the network interface, wherein: the television service provider system retrieves a set of network configuration data from the sets of network configuration data stored by the network configuration dataset database selected based on the identifier of the television receiver being looked up in the identifier database to determine the network configuration data is mapped to the identifier; and based on the received set of network configuration data, process television programming data received via the tuner from the television programming broadcast network.
A television system automatically configures its network settings. When the TV boots up, it checks if previously saved network settings exist and if they are outdated based on a timestamp. If the settings are stale, the TV attempts to connect to a configuration server using its internet connection. The TV sends its unique identifier to the server, which then retrieves the correct network configuration data from a database. This configuration data is sent back to the TV, which then uses these settings to properly process television programming received via the broadcast network (e.g., antenna or cable). The TV also receives network configuration data directly via the tuner from a transponder stream, as a backup.
2. The system for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 1 , wherein the television service provider configuration server is further configured to: receive the request from the television receiver via the network; and in response to the request, transmit the set of network configuration data to the television receiver via the network.
The television service provider configuration server, after receiving a request for network configuration data from a television receiver via the internet, responds by transmitting the relevant set of network configuration data back to the television receiver through the same internet connection. This ensures the television receiver is properly configured to receive programming.
3. The system for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 1 , wherein the information received as part of the request from the television receiver comprises an indication of a subscription package linked with the television receiver.
When the television receiver requests network configuration data, the request also includes information about the user's subscription package. This allows the television service provider to tailor the network configuration data specifically to the features and channels included in their subscription, ensuring they receive the correct services.
4. The system for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 1 , wherein the processor-readable instructions of the television receiver, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: in response to determining the network interface cannot communicate with the television service provider configuration server, acquire the network configuration data via the tuner.
If the television receiver cannot connect to the television service provider's configuration server via the internet, it falls back to receiving the network configuration data directly through the tuner. The tuner receives the data via the television programming broadcast network, allowing the TV to configure itself even without an internet connection.
5. The system for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 1 , wherein the television service provider configuration server is further configured to: receive electronic programming guide (EPG) data; format the EPG data to create a formatted EPG table; and after the set of network configuration data is transferred to the television receiver, cause the formatted EPG table to be transmitted to the television receiver via the network.
The television service provider configuration server not only provides network configuration data but also handles Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) data. The server receives raw EPG data, formats it into a structured table, and transmits this formatted EPG table to the television receiver via the internet after sending the network configuration data.
6. The system for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 5 , wherein the processor-readable instructions of the television receiver, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive the formatted EPG table; store the formatted EPG table; and output an EPG for display to a presentation device based on the formatted EPG table.
The television receiver receives the formatted Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) table from the configuration server, stores it in memory, and uses this data to generate the on-screen EPG that is displayed to the user on their television. This allows the user to browse the available programs and schedule recordings.
7. The system for acquiring network configuration data of claim 1 , wherein the television programming broadcast network is unidirectional to the tuner of the television receiver via satellite.
The television programming broadcast network transmits data one-way to the television receiver's tuner via satellite. This unidirectional communication means that the television receiver can only receive data from the satellite and cannot transmit back through this channel.
8. A method for acquiring network configuration data, the method comprising: in response to a boot of a television receiver, determine previous-stored network configuration data is stored by the television receiver; compare a timestamp of the previously-stored network configuration data with a current time; determine that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale based on comparing the timestamp with the current time; in response to determining that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale: determining if a network interface of the television receiver can communicate with a television programming broadcast network configuration server via a network; in response to determining the network interface can communicate with the television programming broadcast network configuration server: transmitting a request, by the television receiver, for network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface and the network, wherein the request comprises an identifier of the television receiver; retrieving, by the television programming broadcast network configuration server, a set of network configuration data from a plurality of stored sets of network configuration data from a network configuration dataset database based on the identifier of the television receiver; receiving, by the television receiver, the set of network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface, wherein: the television programming broadcast network configuration server retrieves a set of network configuration data from the sets of network configuration data stored by a network configuration dataset database selected based on the identifier of the television receiver being looked up in the identifier database to determine the network configuration data is mapped to the identifier; and network configuration data is also received by one or more tuners of the television receiver on one or more transponder streams from a television programming broadcast system; and based on the received set of network configuration data, processing, by the television receiver, television programming data received via a tuner from a television programming broadcast network.
When a television receiver boots up, it first checks if it has previously stored network settings and their age. If the settings are outdated, the TV attempts to connect to a configuration server via the internet. The TV sends a request with its unique ID to the server. The server uses this ID to retrieve the correct network configuration data from its database and sends it back to the TV. The TV also receives network configuration data directly through its tuner. Finally, the TV uses the received configuration data to correctly process television programming received via the tuner.
9. The method for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 8 , the method further comprising: receiving, by the television programming broadcast network configuration server, the request from the television receiver via the network; and in response to the request, transmitting the set of network configuration data to the television receiver via the network.
The television programming broadcast network configuration server receives the network configuration data request from the television receiver via the internet and responds by sending the requested set of network configuration data back to the television receiver through the same internet connection.
10. The method for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises an indication of a subscription package linked with the television receiver.
The request for network configuration data from the television receiver includes information about the user's subscription package. The service provider can then provide configuration data specific to the user's plan.
11. The method for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 8 , the method further comprising: in response to determining the network interface cannot communicate with the television programming broadcast network configuration server, acquiring, by the television receiver, the network configuration data via the tuner.
If the television receiver cannot connect to the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the internet, it attempts to acquire the necessary network configuration data directly through its tuner from the broadcast signal.
12. The method for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 8 , the method further comprising: receiving electronic programming guide (EPG) data; formatting the EPG data to create a formatted EPG table; and after the set of network configuration data is transferred to the television receiver, causing, by the television programming broadcast network configuration server, the formatted EPG table to be transmitted to the television receiver via the network.
The television programming broadcast network configuration server handles Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) data, receiving raw EPG data, formatting it, and then transmitting this formatted EPG table to the television receiver via the internet after transferring the network configuration data.
13. The method for acquiring the network configuration data of claim 12 , the method further comprising: receiving, by the television receiver, the formatted EPG table; storing, by the television receiver, the formatted EPG table; and outputting, by the television receiver, an EPG for display to a presentation device based on the formatted EPG table.
The television receiver receives the formatted Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) table, stores it in its memory, and uses it to display a user-friendly EPG on the screen, allowing users to browse available programs.
14. The method for acquiring network configuration data of claim 8 , wherein the television programming broadcast network is unidirectional to the tuner of the television receiver via satellite.
The television programming broadcast network transmits data to the television receiver's tuner unidirectionally via a satellite connection. The receiver can only receive from the satellite.
15. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for acquiring network configuration data, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to: in response to a boot of a television receiver, determine whether previous-stored network configuration data is stored by the television receiver; compare a timestamp of the previously-stored network configuration data with a current time; determine that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale based on comparing the timestamp with the current time; in response to determining that the previously-stored network configuration data is stale: determine if a network interface can communicate with a television programming broadcast network configuration server; in response to determining the network interface can communicate with the television programming broadcast network configuration server: cause a request for network configuration data from a television service provider configuration server to be transmitted via the network interface, wherein the request comprises an identifier of the television receiver; receive the network configuration data from the television programming broadcast network configuration server via the network interface, wherein: network configuration data is also received by the television receiver on one or more transponder streams from a television programming broadcast network via one or more tuners; the television service provider configuration server provides the network configuration data from a stored plurality of sets of network configuration data based on the identifier of the television receiver; and based on the network configuration data, process television programming data received via a tuner from a television programming broadcast network.
A non-transitory memory contains instructions that cause a TV to get network configuration data. When the TV boots up, it checks if it has old saved settings, and compares their timestamp to the current time. If the settings are old, it tries to connect to a configuration server. It sends its ID, and the server provides configuration data from a database. The TV also gets configuration data via the tuner from the broadcast network. The TV then uses this data to process broadcast TV signals.
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January 28, 2014
December 19, 2017
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